Americas

Lockheed Martin presented Polarity with an award to supply its solar-inverter technology for deployable airfield power systems commissioned by the U.S. Air Force. The new system, known as the Integrated Smart BEAR Power System (ISBPS) is projected to diminish fuel consumption by 25% and help sustain modular bases that house thousands of troops. Neither company supplied the terms of the contract.

PVT Solar, manufacturer of the Echo solar system, has signed a National Agreement with Meritage Homes, which will see Meritage solely use the Echo solar system at its solar-powered communities in the U.S. The Echo solar system has already been used at solar-powered communities in the U.S. with homebuilders such as Meritage, Joseph Carl Homes and Shea Homes providing homebuyers the option of the Echo solar system. The agreement is said to be the first of its kind in the home building industry.

‘String Ribbon’ technology pioneer Evergreen Solar said it will close its solar module manufacturing plant in Devens, citing the need to preserve liquidity as it faces renewed and consistent pricing competition, specifically from China-based c-Si module manufacturers. The Devens plant, which has a capacity of 180MW and is one of the largest solar panel manufacturing facilities in the U.S., is expected to be permanently closed by the end of the first quarter of 2011, affecting approximately 800 employees.

Emcore has won the right to supply NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Maryland with solar panels for its Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. The US$10 million contract will see four MMS spacecrafts equipped with Emcore’s ZTJ solar cells.

5N Plus, a producer of high-purity metals, compounds and wafers for electronic applications, has converted its US$3 million debenture with Sylarus Technologies into a 66.67% majority interest. 5N has also agreed to provide additional funding of US$766,000 in the form of secured debt, to enable the repayment of short-term debt contracted by Sylarus.

KDC Solar will be collaborating with United Stationers Supply and The Sudler Companies for the development of a 3.25MW roof-mounted solar system at United Stationers Cranbury, New Jersey distribution center. KDC will design, install, own and operate the solar installation, which is anticipated to generate around 3,450,000kWh of electricity every year. The installation is set to begin construction early this year and be fully operational before year end.

Southern California Edison (SCE) has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) for four Californian projects. The installations in Los Angeles and Kern counties will be owned, financed, developed and operated by FRV and are expected to generate 120MW of energy.

SunPower has signed a power purchase agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE) to build and operate three plants with a total capacity of 711MW in California. The 325MW and 276MW facilities in Rosamond and 110MW Los Banos plant will all use SunPower’s 425-watt panels, T0 Tracker and Oasis power block.

Flexible silicon thin-film firm Xunlight has received IEC 61646 and 61730 certification, conducted by TÜV InterCert Group. The certification enables the U.S.-based manufacturer to market its products in Europe, competing against the likes of Uni-Solar products.

First Solar has acquired Idealab operating company RayTracker, a photovoltaic panel tracking technology and balance-of-systems firm based in Pasadena, CA. RayTracker's team will join First Solar's engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) group, and the acquired company’s customers will be transitioned to its new parent.